It originates from a celebration of the First and Third Trinity Boat Club, after which the Ball is named, for their win in the 1838 May Bumps: this consisted in a night of heavy drinking at a local pub, the Hoop Inn.
In the May Bumps, ARBC 1st women rose to get into the 1st division for two days in 2002 but have now also fallen to the bottom of the 2nd division.